Nariell
Three tables further on - at the other side of the tavern - you notice a stern-looking woman, dressed all in leather, with a bow leaning against the wall beside her. When she notices you’re looking, she stands up and comes over. “Looks like you could use a competent companion to join you on your travels through the wilderness.”
“Go back to your stinking bears!”
“Do we look incompetent to you?”
“I hope you’re more than just a good talker.”
“As you wish. But you should learn to be a bit more polite if you don’t want to meet boron a lot sooner than you expect.”
“Not really, but in this wilderness, any spear is welcome help. So, do you require my services?”
“I sure am. Nariell’s the name. Well?”
“Not really.”
“Welcome aboard.”
“Okay then… its good bye. Time I got out into the woods again, but we might bump into each other again sometime. You know where to find me. Firun be with you!”
Harika
“You want to leave this beautiful place already?” a deep female voice reaches you from the next table, obviously addressing you. “Not a bad decision. Do you take on companions? Silent where need be? I’m an expert with the epee. And my real specialty is trading and recovering any sort of items, whether you’ve lost them beforehand or not!”
“Get out of our faces. No cutthroats wanted.”
“Sounds good. Too good. How much?”
“And close-lipped as a boroni. How much?”
“Watch out you don’t get that tongue clipped someday!”
“Two hundred silvers and I’m as loyal as any knight of Rondra’s. Do you need me?”
“A measly hundred and fifty in the Empire’s finest silver coins! And you’re guaranteed the best of service!”
“Let’s forget it, okay?”
“Welcome! What’s your pleasure?”
“Bye, folks! I’m out of here. This is quite the place to fill your pockets but I’d hate to be considered greedy. Be seeing you.”
Curian
While you are trying to find out what ever possessed you to enter this dive, your gaze falls on a man dressed entirely in gray, sipping his wine at a corner table - obviously a sorcerer. He has noticed your looking, stands up and ambles over to your table. “Curian’s the name, Adeptus Exemptus, Andergast battle school. Do you require magical services?”
“Be gone, demon-monger!”
“There has to be catch. Your price, maybe?”
“We can always use a competent magician.”
“Have it your way. But you should try a more civilized tone next time, unless you have a secret desire to wake up as a toad some morning.”
“No catch, friends, and no price either. You look like good travelling adventurers, and I happen to be in a travelling mood. Do you desire my services?”
“You could not pick a better man. The best magician between Thorwal and Olport is at your command!”
“Let’s say not.”
“Welcome aboard!”
“I have neglected my studies too long so I bid you farewell. All the best to you and do keep away from demons…”
Ardora of Gryphon’s Ford
While you are wondering whether to order another round of beers or not, a woman comes up to your table. You find her face vaguely familiar…
“Hello, my friends. Rondra, it’s good to see you again! Tavernkeeper! A stout for my saviours and myself!”
“Do we know each other, madam?”
“Damn it, I’m sure I know you from somewhere!”
“Ardora of Gryphon’s Ford! Have a seat!”
“Don’t you remember? The ship of the dead. You rescued me!”
“Of course! How could we have forgotten?”
“We’re constantly rescuing someone or other.”
“Whatever you say. My mistake I guess. I beg your pardon, please forget I ever bothered you.” the woman turns away.
“Ardora of Gryphon’s ford. The ship of death…”
The warrior-woman sits down at your table and you tell her about your adventures since you left her. The hours pass by and finally Ardora says: “I still owe you a favor, you know. Do you want to have me and my sword along for a while? I have no particular plans and could use a few weeks of travel. How about it?”
“Sure. You can come along if you want to.”
“Sorry, but we have to travel alone.”
“As you wish. Should you need me after all, you can find me at the “Four winds”.”
“Sorry to leave you so suddenly comrades in arms, but the goddess has touched me. Rondra be with you! Till we meet again.”
Garsvik
There is a thorwalian leaning against at the bar, a real giant of a man! When he notices you are looking at him, he comes swaggering over. “How about that for real muscles? Garsvik is my name. I’ve travelled the seas under a lot of captains and i’m not exactly unknown on land either. If you need someone who knows his way around here and can hold his own in a roughhouse if needed, I’m your man!”
“Leave us alone, booze brain!”
“Whoa, hang on! You’re a mercenary then?”
“Yes indeed, you seem to fit the bill.”
“Takes one to know one. You better watch out no one serves you a knuckle sandwich if you let your garethi manners hang out like that!”
“No way! Just give me a ship to sail on or a decent opponent to go a few rounds with and I’ll come along. Deal?”
“Right! It’s a deal then. Let’s make a toast!”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Welcome aboard! Tavernkeeper, a round of fire!”
“Swafnir! It was nice talking to you all, but now I’ll have to go see what’s happening with my kinfolk in Prem. Good bye. Who knows, the gods may bring us together again sometime!”
Erwo of Gollbrinck
Without warning, a nondescript fellow appears at your table. He looks like a merchant who has seen better days. “May I sit down? I heard you are looking for old Hyggelik’s treasure. You might need someone who has travelled all the thorwalian countryside and knows people everywhere. Erwo’s my name, Erwo of Gollbrinck.”
“Buzz off, you tramp!”
“And you are willing to sell that information?”
“We’re never adverse to bettering the odds.”
“As you wish. But given that you’ll probably be needing information from people to help you find anything, you definitely should learn some manners.”
“No, that’s not it! I would like to accompany you for a spell. I’ve been hanging around this hamlet for far too long as it is. Could you use someone like me?”
“Great, I’ll just go pack my things. I’ll be back soon.”
“Well, no, not really.”
“Welcome aboard!”
“Good bye, people. I think I just saw someone I haven’t seen in years. Thank you very much for your company and maybe we’ll meet again some day.”